Synthesis and characterization of bimetallic Pt/Ni particles for the application of catalysis

La synthèse des catalyseurs bi-métalliques de PtNi supportés sur silice et préparés par une méthode non-classique a été étudiée de manière approfondie en utilisant le borohydrure de sodium (NaBH4) comme réducteur du précurseur métallique. En général, les catalyseurs qui ont été préparés par la technique de co-imprégnation donnent une meilleure réactivité catalytique pour l'hydrogénation du benzène en cyclohexane en phase gazeuse, comparée à celles donnée par la co-précipitation, par l'imprégnation par étapes et par l'utilisation d'acide oléique. Plusieurs catalyseurs bimetalliques ont démontré une meilleure réactivité que le catalyseur mono-métallique Pt. Les recherches ont prouvé que l'amélioration de la réactivité peut être attribuée à la formation d'alliage de Pt et Ni accompagnée de la ségrégation du Pt sur l'alliage. L'effet de plusieurs paramètres de réduction a été également étudié. Les variations de ces paramètres affectent la morphologie et la dispersion des particules PtNi. La réactivité catalytique optimum a été obtenue lors de la formation de petites particules PtNi dispersées à la température de 273 K avec 0.3 M de NaBH4 en solution dans l'éthanol. Les méthodes classiques aussi ont été utilisées pour la synthèse des catalyseurs PtNi supportés. Plusieurs des catalyseurs ont montré une meilleure réactivité que le Pt. On a trouvé qu'elle est attribuable à l'effet d'ancrage des ions de Ni2+ sur le support et la fixation de particules Pt très petites et bien dispersées sur ces ions. En conclusion, il apparaît dans ce travail que les particules bimétalliques supportées, combinées en alliage ou non, peuvent donner lieu à une meilleure réactivité que les catalyseurs monométalliques. Cependant, plusieurs paramètres affectent la surface de la phase métallique des catalyseurs. Par conséquent, nos résultats montrent qu'il est impératif de comprendre et de contrôler ces paramètres pour synthétiser les catalyseurs possédant les meilleures propriétés.The synthesis of PtNi bimetallic particles supported silica catalysts, prepared via non-classical methods using sodium borohydride (NaBH4) as a reducing agent, was studied in detail. The silica supports employed in this work is limited to crystalline silica and mesoporous aluminosilicate (MCM-41). Various preparation techniques as well as reduction parameters were investigated to gain an insight on how these factors influenced the final structure of the PtNi particles on the silica support and their catalytic reactivity towards the hydrogenation of benzene to cyclohexane. It was found that this reduction method enabled total reduction of the metal salts during the preparation stage of the catalysts. Hydrogen consumptions which were detected using H2-TPR analysis were mainly attributed to surface oxidation of the metal phase during storage. Studies on the effect of preparation techniques showed that the surface and catalytic properties of the catalysts are largely affected by the PtNi ratio as well as the method in which the metal salts are introduced onto the support. Catalysts prepared via co-impregnation technique generally exhibited better catalytic reactivity when compared to those prepared via co-precipitation and step-impregnation techniques. Further, catalysts with higher Ni content showed a tendency towards lower reactivity in contrast to those with high Pt content. Several catalysts demonstrated enhanced reactivity when compared to the monometallic Pt catalysts. Investigations showed that the improved reactivity can be attributed to alloying of the Pt and Ni accompanied by surface segregation of Pt. As a means to improve catalytic reactivity, PtNi stabilized oleic acid particles were synthesized prior to incorporation onto a silica support. The intention of this study is to allow better control of the dispersion and alloying between the PtNi particles. Results show that though better dispersed alloys were obtained, very low activity was observed. Nickel surface segregation is likely to be the cause of this due to the presence of oxygen from oleic acid. The effect of several reduction parameters was also investigated to enhance catalytic reactivity. The reduction temperature, NaBH4 concentration and medium in which reduction was carried out were varied. Variations in these parameters affected the particle morphology and dispersion of the PtNi particles. Optimum catalytic reactivity was obtained when small dispersed PtNi particles were formed at 273 K using 0.3 M NaBH4 in a medium of ethanol. Classical methods were also used for the synthesis of PtNi supported catalysts. In this study the PtNi particles were formed using H2 gas as the reducing agent. Several catalysts showed improved reactivity. Investigations show that this is attributed to the anchoring effect of Ni2+ ions which anchors Pt to the support, forming fine dispersed Pt particles available for catalytic reaction. In general, it is obvious that alloyed and non – alloyed bimetallic particles supported on silica can lead to the enhancement of hydrogenation reactions when compared to the respective monometallic catalysts. However, the PtNi ratios, preparation techniques, environment in which the particles are reduced and support influences the structure of the metallic phase of these catalysts. Therefore it is imperative to gain a thorough understanding on these parameters, in order to synthesize catalysts with desired properties